[MacNZ]

I was looking the other day at getting a second Epson printer for our home network. We alreay have a Stylus 740 which is connected to a network with 2 iMacs and two Pismo's. I wanted to get another printer for a third Rev B iMac not on the network but they now sell the 760 model printer instead of the 740. I wanted to get a 740 for printer cartridge commonality and so I would only need one software driver. Anyways, should I get a 740 for cheap (i was offered a decent price) or get a new superior 760? The salesman also recommended the 670 but it didn't seem as good for the job.

[reader50]

The 740 & the 760 use the same ink cartridges. The 760 is a little quieter while printing, and Epson claims it is a little faster. I have seen good output from both. Unless the prices are nearly identical, I would buy by price.

Note that the 760 has parallel & USB connections, but no serial. Doesn't sound like that would be an issue for you, but it bears mentioning.

[This message has been edited by reader50 (edited 06-25-2000).]

[iPaul UK]

Epson printers do give very good print quality. However, the driver software is diabolical. It works fine for the job it was intended for. But, (and it's a BIG but) The drivers conflict with Apples Remote Access. Causing the computer to freeze when you try to connect up to the net etc. If you don't use Remote Access then you will be fine. But given that Epson have done absolutely nothing about this widely documented problem sinse around April this year, I say "Screw em!" And buy an HP printer instead.

See Thread "Is it me, or is Epson software cr@p?" for more details...

[tooki]

I hate to disagree, but I do. I have sold dozens of Epson printers, largely to home users who use Remote Access, and have never once encountered this problem. It can hardly be called "widely documented". Indeed, the ONLY problem I have ever seen with the Epsons is that early 740s shipped without a Mac USB driver.

I have a 740 myself, and regularly connect to the internet using Remote Access without incident.

Readers: do not preclude the purchase of an Epson because of this.

tooki

[Bugs Bunny]

Ditto tooki... I have had 4 Epson printers,
most recently the 760, both my B&W G3, and the Pismo have had absolutely no problems with ARA, and the Epson drivers. Excellent printers, USB print sharing, as well as Epsons own print sharing drivers provide good results. Printing wireless via the Airport and my Pismo is fantastic.

I have an Epson 740 also and love it! I have never had one problem with it conflicting with Remote Access!

[This message has been edited by APW (edited 06-25-2000).]

[iPaul UK]

Tooki, I hate to disagree too. But there is no hiding this very serious problem with Epson software. I recently bought an Epson 760, and it prints great. It's fast and quiet etc.. But I noticed very quickly that the software and drivers made my computer very unstable, particularly where Remote Access was involved. I tried all the obvious stuff to try and fix things.. Then I posted the above earlier mentioned post in the hope of finding an solution to my problem. In that post, other people mentioned that they too had experienced similar problems. And in that very same post somebody posted a very interesting link to a forum on Macfixit.com (I think I got the name right) And on the forum, There are HEAPS of people that are having exactly the same problem as myself. Even Wlonh somehow knows that Epson themselfs have admitted the existence of this problem as far back as April. So if that little lot does not count as "Widely documented" then tell me.. What does count?

On the plus side, I'm not saying that all Epson stuff is crap. I have an Epson 600 (serial port based) printer hooked up to my old 8200 and I never had a single problem with it, and it always gave good quality prints. So I thought that was a more than good enough reason to buy another Epson for my newer iMac. Sure, some people seem to be lucky and have little or no problem with their more up to date Epson printers. But as I said earlier, there is no denying that there is a serious problem with the drivers that should have been sorted out a long time ago.

[rambo47]

I too have an Epson 740i I'm using with my Wallstreet Powerbook and I have zero problems to report. I used Earthlink for over a year and had no internet problems. Now I have a DSL connection and all is well. I was actually considering getting one of the new HP printers with their 2400 x 1200 dpi resolution (1440 x 720 on my Epson). However, since my 740i is working so well I can't bear to part with it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
It sounded to me like most of the problems with Epson printers centered around USB. I have kept my Wallstreet a USB-free zone and have been a happy camper all along.

------------------
Peep my iDisk: rambo47
"There is no spoon."

[iBorg]

I use both Epson 800 and 740i, both with a Mac 6500 for the former, and an iMac and my Pismo for the latter, and have none of these problems with either of them. I agree with tooki, I'd recommend Epson above all.

iPaul, it was only a couple of years ago that HP abruptly abandoned the Mac entirely, until the popular iMac drew their financial attention again, so it is to HP that I say "screw 'em!" Fair-weather-friends like HP deserve no loyalty - Epson stuck with us all along!

Just my $.02.



iBorg

[iPaul UK]

Well don't get me wrong guys.. I have only ever used Epson printers on my computers. But I was just really disappointed with the problems that the drivers/software created on my computer. And I was even more disappointed to hear that Epson have been aware of it for ages but have done nothing about it!

I'm not here to stop anyone from buying an Epson printer. But i'll get p1$$ed off if someone comes crying and whinging here if they bought an Epson 760 or whatever and later get problems with the drivers/Remote Access. Just a case of.. "well don't say I didn't warn you" See what i'm saying?

[Feathers]

Is this Epson driver moan unique to the 740 'cos I have a 750 and have never had a days trouble with it and the quality is superb.

IMHO - People are far too quick to blame newly installed drivers on poor performance. A sloppy system folder with unused extensions enabled is an accident waiting to happen. Keep your syetem lean and mean and you'll be amazed at how few problems you have. Plus regular preventative maintenance, of course.

[MacNZ]

Ok, sounds good then. About the RA problems, as I said I already have one epson and ain't had any such probs. I suppose I will bite the bullet and go for another 740, they were like 1/3 cheaper than the 760 and I can use the extra money for other add-ons. Thanks to all who replied.

I bougth recently a 870 and it works really great. I have no problems with the driver until now. I have a power mac 8600 with a USB card.
The problem is the new cartridge, if you stop the process of initializing you are stuck with a full cartridge unusable…

[Zwilnik]

If, for some reason, your Epson printer decides that a full ink cart is "empty", just take the cart out and 'install' it as if it was a fresh one.
Also, if you're a miser (like me), and have noticed that Epson printers tend to flag a cart as empty when it's still 10% full, you can use the same trick to keep a cart in use until it is completely empty.

My Epson 740 works great also. The only problem is that after I print something on the Glossy paper at a real high resolution the ink gets all clogged up and needs to be cleaned a few time over. Other than that I am real happy and Costco sells cartridges for 41.99 for 2 color and $35-39 for two Black.

economical!

JOHN JACKSON

And to just add to the voices singing the praises of Epson, I've had a Photo700 for a year and a half and have had no problems with it at all. It gives great prints and the drivers have caused me no issues at all.

Enjoy your new Epson.

Dev